Congressman Jim Renacci wanted to give the Akron Press Club a clear message: He is not anything like his opponent, incumbent Sherrod Brown.

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Congressman Jim Renacci talks with the Akron Press Club about running for the U.S. Senate

16th District Congressman Jim Renacci at the Akron Press Club luncheon

Credit TIM RUDELL / WKSU

Senate candidate Renacci pointed to his support for what he sees as the forward-looking agenda of Donald Trump. He called Sherrod Brown’s support for policies of the Obama years going backward.

He also talked about his qualifications and how his experience in business gives him perspective on healthcare costs.“That’s one of the things that makes me different from Sherrod Brown and other people I’ve run against. Here’s the big issue. There needs to be transparency. There needs to be buy-in. There needs to be people who see the cost of these different programs and then make their decisions.”

Press Club members submitted a variety of questions for the four-term Congressman.

Credit ANDREW MEYER / WKSU

The press club audience had some tough questions, but the last one put him on the spot. Renacci, who was born in Pennsylvania was asked if he is a Steelers fan. He said he was once asked that by a firefighter in Canton who was obviously a Browns fan: “…and I said to him…’I’m a Steelers fan.’ And he said, you know what? ‘I’m going to support you anyway because I knew you were, and you didn’t lie.”